We embraced heartily. I afterwards learnt that, when he reached Paris, he found a writ awaiting him, signed by the Duc de Raguse, in common with the same sent to General La Fayette, Laffitte and Audry de Puyraveau. While we were greeting one another, the horses were being put to my carriage and to Marchais's, and then Marchais' started for Paris. "I am now at your service," said the posting-master, who seemed surprised I was not in a great hurry. "Pardon," I replied. "I am waiting for a companion who is coming from Paris with my horse and pistols.... I am intending, if you will allow me, to leave my horse here in exchange for your trap." "Leave whatever you like," was his reply. We gazed down the road as far as we could see, but nothing was yet in sight. "We shall have time," I said to the posting-master, "to rig up a tricolour flag." "What for?" he asked. "To put on your trap.... It will indicate our opinions, and will prevent our being arrested for fugitives." "Oh! oh!" he said, laughing, "on the contrary, they are more likely to stop you, because ... you look like something quite different." "Never mind, I shall be delighted to sail under the three colours." "Ah! as far as that goes, that's easy enough!" He crossed the street, went into a draper's shop, bought half a yard each of white, blue and red merino, got the people to sew the three half yards together, and nailed them to a broom handle. The flag was ready in ten minutes, and it cost twelve francs, broom stick included. We fastened it with two cords to the hood of the trap. As we were accomplishing this task we caught sight of Bard, who arrived on my horse at full gallop. I signed to him to hurry yet more if it were possible, but he could not go faster. At last he joined us. "Ah!" he said, "I am glad to see that you have got a carriage, for I am dreadfully saddle sore!" Then, as he stepped to the ground, he said, "There are your horse and pistols." "You did not think to bring a shirt too?" "Upon my word I didn't! I don't think you mentioned anything about a shirt." "No, it is my own fault.... Hand the horse to the stable lad, take the pistols and be sharp and get in; it is five o'clock already!" "A quarter to five," the post-master remarked, looking at his watch. "Do you think we shall reach Soissons before eleven to-night?" "It will be a difficult job--but there, so many miracles have happened the last three days that it would not be impossible for you to perform this one." And he gave orders to the postillion to mount the horse. "Are you on?" he asked. "Yes." "Then off you go; gallop the whole way, you understand?" "I understand, governor," said the postillion. And he set off at a furious pace. "You know the pistols aren't loaded," Bard said. "All right! we will load them at Villers-Cotterets." By a quarter to six we were at Mesnil: we had covered nearly four leagues in the hour.